Alternative to isopropyl for cleaning disc brakes and pads?
04-10-20, 04:58 PM
#26
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From a medical standpoint, yes. But from a non medical use point, no. Anhydrous 2-propanol will form peroxides on exposure to air, oxygen and time. If you were to distill the 2-propanol for some reason, there is the possibility of the peroxide’s concentrating and self-detonating but the chemical would have had to have lots and lots of time to form the peroxides in addition to you being dumb enough to try to distill it. And that’s not evaporating it but actively heating it to boiling.
If you see crystals around the neck of a bottle of anhydrous, that might be cause for concern but short of that just use it. However, adding a little water will interrupt the peroxide formation so diluting it to 90% would solve much of the problem.
If you see crystals around the neck of a bottle of anhydrous, that might be cause for concern but short of that just use it. However, adding a little water will interrupt the peroxide formation so diluting it to 90% would solve much of the problem.
04-11-20, 02:15 AM
#27
Senior Member
Generally it is not advised to clean pads or rotors unless they have become contaminated, or to clean the rotors when changing to a different pad material. Because pads are porous, usually attempts to clean them when they're seriously contaminated fail and in most cases its best to replace them off the bat. If they are very slightly and recently contaminated sand paper may help. For rotors that are contaminated, dish detergent works well if its rinsed well with plain water. For very heavy contamination I will also sometimes sand the rotors with fine grit sandpaper.
04-11-20, 10:09 AM
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04-11-20, 03:34 PM
#29
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I clean and lube everything with gasoline and so long as I hold my cigarette off to the side I rarely set anything on fire so I would 100% agree with you use Gasoline all the time in everything you do. 
On a serious note, don't actually use gasoline I may not always agree with @cyccommute but on this one keep the gasoline for your car or other IC engine
Me personally if I was out of isopropyl I would probably use something like Everclear or another neutral spirit like that. Cheap vodka could work as well but if my brakes are especially dirty I might clean and degrease them first and then do a final touch up with alcohol. I don't tend to drink often and when I do it wouldn't be alcohol like Vodka or Gin or anything like that.
On a serious note, don't actually use gasoline I may not always agree with @cyccommute but on this one keep the gasoline for your car or other IC engine
Me personally if I was out of isopropyl I would probably use something like Everclear or another neutral spirit like that. Cheap vodka could work as well but if my brakes are especially dirty I might clean and degrease them first and then do a final touch up with alcohol. I don't tend to drink often and when I do it wouldn't be alcohol like Vodka or Gin or anything like that.
04-15-20, 05:58 PM
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The pandemic has caused a real run on alcohols, making them harder to get, short term.
even some distillers of fine spirits are shifting to disinfecting blends. sigh .
I worked a burn unit for years where the uncommon consequences of the possible were a daily event.
Wear your mind's safety goggles and be amazed at what you see
Look at the trouble folks are having with the coronavirus, where the control of epidemics was worked out before Pasteur 150 years ago,
Stay safe
even some distillers of fine spirits are shifting to disinfecting blends. sigh .
I worked a burn unit for years where the uncommon consequences of the possible were a daily event.
Wear your mind's safety goggles and be amazed at what you see
Look at the trouble folks are having with the coronavirus, where the control of epidemics was worked out before Pasteur 150 years ago,
Stay safe
Last edited by bikebikebike; 04-17-20 at 05:30 AM.
